It’s not always that a hotel has a backstory to its name and Tacloban’s newest boutique hotel is one of those rare ones. Ironwood Hotel, it is dubbed, its name coming from the strength of mangkono, a local hardwood used as foundation to the former structure that was swept away by Typhoon Yolanda two years past.

THE SEED CAFE AT THE LOBBY

And it’s not just a name too. Coming in late from our Kalanggaman Island trip, we checked in at Ironwood Hotel just a day after their formal inauguration. We sat our weary selves on their comfy lounge and marveled at the interiors of the hotel; the front desk and chandelier, a clever combination of iron and wood planks salvaged from the previous building that once stood on its ground.

And yes, we immediately connected to their fast and very free Internet Wi-Fi connection. Instagram time.

I LOVE IRONWOOD’S ARTSY HALLWAYS

We discovered the four-star boutique hotel from Traveloka; it has a total of 21 rooms, divided into six types and spread over three floors. We were billeted on their Premier Double Room [CHECK RATES & AVAILABILITY], which has two single beds, a flatscreen cable TV, mini-bar, electronic safe, a work desk and a snazzy en suite toilet and bath complete with rain-type shower head.

WORKSTATION, MINI-FRIDGE AND CLOSET SPACE

NICE TOUCH WITH THE TABLE AND CHAIRS

Space seems a premium at Ironwood Hotel; our room set such as there’s hardly any wasted nooks and crannies. That’s not to say that it’s cramped though. It fits two people just mighty fine.

OUR PREMIER DOUBLE ROOM

Being a business hotel, I was actually surprised to find our room to be warmly decorated. Forget about the usual cold interiors of a business hotel, what you’d find at Ironwood are homey textures like wood grains and soft velvets. I’d have these over cool glass and steel anytime, thank you very much.

And the sleep quality? Just look how thick the beds and duvets are.

THE TIMBER HALL AT THE FIFTH FLOOR

The hotel has an in-house restaurant, the Fire Grass Tavern, and a cafe, the Seed Cafe, both set at the ground floor. On the roof-deck, they have a bar, the Timber Hall overlooking Tacloban City.

BREAKFAST TIME AT THE FIRE GRASS TAVERN

Their complimentary breakfast is set at the Fire Grass Tavern where we were given a choice between Filipino and Continental favorites. I chose their bacons, of course, which was set with two slices of toasted bread, omelette, pork and beans and an additional order of fried rice, which I specifically requested for. Man doesn’t live off bread alone, as they say.

GRILLED BABY BACK RIBS ~ PHP 480.00 | CHICKEN BRUSCHETTA ~ PHP 150.00

Besides their breakfast fare, we were also able to try some of the Tavern’s specialty [FULL MENU]. A plate of baked prawns, grilled baby back ribs, queso de ajo margherita pizza and chicken bruschetta was set for an afternoon snack. A snack? More like an early dinner if you ask me.

QUESO DE AJO MARGHERITA PIZZA ~ PHP 500.00

BAKED PRAWNS ~ PHP 250.00

I’m really not into baby back ribs as I don’t usually dig the sweet thingamajig they lather all over the meat (I’d like it better if it was chicken gravy, lol), but their pizza and prawns bowled me over. I think I ate most of the prawns, sorry guys.

If you’re looking for other dishes though, the hotel is set right along Tacloban’s food hub, you need not go far to find other interesting restaurants to dine on.

Before we left the hotel, we found one more thing we liked about Ironwood; absolutely free transfer to the airport, something hotels don’t usually offer. Kudos to Ironwood Hotel for that! ~ BIG THANKS TO IRONWOOD HOTEL FOR SPONSORING PART OF OUR STAY IN TACLOBAN CITY